South Africa beat Afghanistan double super over thriller

South Africa prevailed in a double super over thriller as Afghanistan came up agonisingly short of a famous victory after their T20 World Cup clash ended in a tie on Wednesday.

Afghanistan were 187 all out after South Africa scored 187-6 in Ahmedabad.

The teams were tied again after a breathless first super over saw them both score 18, before South Africa won off the final ball of a heart-thumping second sudden-death showdown.

After South Africa bludgeoned 23 from their second super over and Afghanistan lost a wicket off the second ball of theirs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left needing four sixes off four balls for an unlikely victory.

Gurbaz sensationally launched Keshav Maharaj into the crowd three times with some huge blows.

A wide off the fifth ball meant Afghanistan still needed six to win but now a four would send it, incredibly, to a third super over.

With nerves jangling and pulses racing, the left-arm spinner held his nerve to bowl a wide yorker that saw Gurbaz smack into the grateful hands of Davis Miller at point as he looked to hit a boundary.

It was South Africa’s second win in as many matches in Group D to be placed second behind toppers New Zealand.

A few minutes earlier, after Gurbaz scored a brilliant 42-ball 84 in the chase, Afghanistan had needed 13 off the last over of the match to win with one wicket in hand.

After Kagiso Rabada bowled two no balls and a wide and Noor Ahmad hit a six, Afghanistan needed two to win off three balls.

But Noor was run out going for the the winning second run with the scores level.

South Africa pace bowler Lungi Ngidi was named player of the match after his 3-26 in four overs.

“I’ve lost so much weight today,” said a smiling Ngidi.

“Never been that stressed in my life in a cricket game. Happy to come out on the winning side.”

Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickelton (61) were the manstays of South Africa’s innings as they put on 114 for the second wicket.